Practice Kindness, Build Community:
The 2025 Peace of Mind Conference
Mindfulness * Learning * Community
By educators, for educators
Peace of Mind Conference 2025: Agenda and Presenters
10:00 am Conference Opens Emcee and facilitator Syreetta McArthur and Peace of Mind Board Founder and Creative Director, Linda Ryden, will welcome us in.
Syreetta McArthur has served communities in Washington, D.C. for fourteen years in several capacities. As an elementary and social justice educator, she recognizes the need to practice mindfulness as she centers equity in her teaching practice. Syreetta witnesses the positive impact Peace of Mind has on her students every day and recognizes the need for it in every level of education, in every school.
Syreetta holds a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction for Social Justice from Loyola University Maryland. Syreetta is a lifelong learner that enjoys annotating articles and research papers. She is a proud plant mom and lover of a good writing pen.
10:10 am to 11:10 am Mindfulness for Educators
Dave Trachtenberg is a mindfulness guide & mentor, restorative justice educator, cross-cultural dialog facilitator, and inclusive leadership coach with over 20 years of experience practicing mindfulness. Currently, he teaches mindfulness and inclusive leadership in American University’s School of Education, and in the past has served educators across the country with five different mindfulness and education nonprofits. He has dedicated his life to integrating mindfulness & well-being with inclusion and social justice and creating communities that honor our collective wisdom, celebrate our identities and lived experiences, and embody the courage and humility needed to create a more welcoming society.
11:15 am to 11:35 pm Keynote delivered by Nakeesha J. Ceran
Nakeesha “Keesha” Jeanne Ceran serves as the Deputy Director of Teaching for Change and is motivated by her passion for social justice to positively impact and influence her circles, both domestically and globally. She strives to present a mindset that focuses on equality and equity and is actively involved in community development, particularly as it relates to education policy, Haitian advocacy, and women’s interests in politics and racial reconciliation at the intersection of faith. A first-generation American of Haitian immigrants, Keesha has lived in many parts of the U.S. An Ohio native, Keesha grew up in a college town, spent her adolescence and first few years of college in California, and a year with family in New York before settling in the D.C. Metro area since 2008. Keesha holds three degrees in Political Science and is a proud community college graduate and a double alumna of American University. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the American University Black Alumni Alliance and spends her off time volunteering with a local organization striving for racial unity & justice within the church. Keesha represented Teaching for Change at Busboys and Poets by interviewing political sportswriter, Dave Zirin (2021 interview), and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, Nikole Hannah-Jones (2021 interview). Keesha is also the AU 2023 MLK Jr. Visionary Award recipient. A lover of words, you’ll often find Keesha with a book in hand, taking notes with her colorful pens. Keesha enjoys running, listening to music, and traveling, among many other interests.
11:35 am to 12:05 am Mindfulness + Community Building
12:05 pm to 1:05 pm LUNCH
Delicious Bullfrog Bagel Sandwich lunch boxes are back! We’re offering omnivore, vegetarian and vegan options again this year. Please reserve yours when you register.
You are welcome to bring your own lunch if you prefer. Drinks will be provided.
1:05 pm to 2:05 pm Peace of Mind in Action: A Live Classroom Experience
Join us for a unique opportunity to witness a Peace of Mind lesson in action! In this interactive session, Peace of Mind’s founder will lead a live mindfulness lesson with students who have experienced the curriculum firsthand. Watch as they engage in mindfulness practices, share their insights, and demonstrate how these tools help build self-awareness, resilience, and kindness in their school communities. Participants will gain valuable takeaways on how to bring these lessons to life in their own classrooms.
Linda Ryden is the creator of the Peace of Mind Program and author of the Peace of Mind Curriculum Series, a cutting-edge combination of mindfulness-based social-emotional learning, conflict resolution and social justice for Early Childhood through Middle School. Linda has served as the full-time Peace Teacher at Lafayette Elementary School, Washington DC’s largest public elementary, since 2003 and continues to teach Peace of Mind classes to more than 700 students every week. Linda is also actively engaged in supporting her school’s efforts to sustain an inclusive and equitable school climate.
Linda is the author of five mindfulness-based children’s books including three published by Tilbury House. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, Washington Parent, Washington Family, Teaching Tolerance, Edutopia, among others. Linda was a keynote speaker at the National Network of State Teachers of the Year conference in 2020 and a featured speaker at the National Education Association Foundation Symposium in 2018, and has received a Commendation for Educational Innovation from the DC Board of Education.
Linda brings a passion for teaching peace and over 25 years of teaching experience to her work with children and adults. Linda holds a BA from Wesleyan University and lives in Washington D.C. with her husband Jeremiah Cohen, owner of Bullfrog Bagels, their two children, and their dog Phoebe.
2:05 pm to 3:05 pm Cultivating Mindful and Inclusive Classrooms: OSSE-Aligned Workshops
Explore practical strategies to foster mindfulness, kindness, and social-emotional learning in your classroom. Our breakout sessions align with OSSE standards, offering insights into teacher self-care, building inclusive elementary communities, and transforming middle school classrooms with Peace of Mind strategies. Whether you’re supporting young learners or your own well-being, these sessions provide meaningful tools to create a more peaceful, connected learning environment.
Kindness in Action: Peace of Mind strategies for middle-school classroom transformation, Ayisha Keith, DCPS School Social Worker
Session Description:
Is your middle school classroom feeling more chaotic than calm? This session explores the transformative potential of integrating the Peace of Mind curriculum throughout your classroom and school community. We’ll explore how equipping middle schoolers with the skills to manage their emotions and connect with others can create a ripple effect of kindness, building a stronger, more peaceful school culture, one classroom at a time
Mindful Moments, Meaningful Impact: Integrating SEL for your well-being, Syreetta McArthur, DC Educator
Stephanie Gordon, DCPS School Counselor
Session Description:
We must promote peace within ourselves before nurturing peace in our students. This session prioritizes teacher well-being as the foundation for creating a peaceful and productive learning environment. Explore practical ideas from the Peace of Mind curriculum that you can use to prioritize self-care, manage stress and cultivate your inner peace. Learn how these practices benefit you personally and enhance your ability to effectively implement SEL standards and support the emotional well-being of your middle school students, even beyond dedicated Peace Class or Peace sessions.
Nurturing Young Minds: Peace of Mind in elementary education, Jillian Sharkey, DCPS School Counselor
Natalie Elmore, DCPS School Social Worker
Session Description:
Even the smallest seeds can grow into something beautiful. This session focuses on the power of early intervention in fostering emotional intelligence in elementary-aged children. Discover how the Peace of Mind curriculum can help plant seeds of kindness, compassion and self-awareness in young minds. We’ll engage in activities and strategies designed to nurture connection, build empathy and develop essential social-emotional skills. You’ll be empowered to create a supportive and nurturing environment where your elementary students can thrive emotionally and academically.
Building Kind and Inclusive Classrooms, Linda, Ryden, Peace of Mind Founder
Elie Goldman, Peace Teacher
Session Description: Learn tangible ways to build classroom community!
Linda Ryden is the creator of the Peace of Mind Program and author of the Peace of Mind Curriculum Series, a cutting-edge combination of mindfulness-based social-emotional learning, conflict resolution and social justice for Early Childhood through Middle School. Linda has served as the full-time Peace Teacher at Lafayette Elementary School, Washington DC’s largest public elementary, since 2003 and continues to teach Peace of Mind classes to more than 700 students every week. Linda is also actively engaged in supporting her school’s efforts to sustain an inclusive and equitable school climate.
Linda is the author of five mindfulness-based children’s books including three published by Tilbury House. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, Washington Parent, Washington Family, Teaching Tolerance, Edutopia, among others. Linda was a keynote speaker at the National Network of State Teachers of the Year conference in 2020 and a featured speaker at the National Education Association Foundation Symposium in 2018, and has received a Commendation for Educational Innovation from the DC Board of Education.
Linda brings a passion for teaching peace and over 25 years of teaching experience to her work with children and adults. Linda holds a BA from Wesleyan University and lives in Washington D.C. with her husband Jeremiah Cohen, owner of Bullfrog Bagels, their two children, and their dog Phoebe.
Ayisha Keith is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker originally from Petersburg, Virginia. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Norfolk State University and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland. With 20 years of experience in mental health and social work, she is currently serving as a School Social Worker and School Based Mental Health Coordinator for DC Public Schools at Sousa Middle School in Ward 7. Personally, she is a wife and mother of three boys ages 9, 6, and 1. Her activities and passions mostly include parenting, reading, listening to music, beginner gardening, and making various plant-based meals.
Mrs. Keith has demonstrated a positive image of school social work through their compassionate and proactive approach to supporting students’ social-emotional well-being, attendance, and academic success. She consistently prioritizes building trusting relationships with students, caregivers, and staff, fostering a sense of belonging and support within the school community. Additionally, her leadership in implementing effective strategies for attendance monitoring and intervention reflects her dedication to promoting a positive school culture and ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.” She has cultivated partnerships with the Wendt Center for students in Ward 7 who have deep trauma and grief and loss. She has contracted a martial arts provider who teaches students emotional regulation through movement. She oversees CBO, intern and DBH social workers caseload and also supports the teachers with various duties in the morning and afternoon.”
In her acceptance speech, Ayisha Keith emphasized and expressed gratitude for the collaboration and support she has received from her colleagues at Sousa–from administration to general and special education teachers to fellow social workers, including her social work intern!
Elie is the Peace Teacher for grades 2-5 at Lafayette Elementary, DC’s largest elementary school. In 2016, he started his career as a Teach for America (TFA) Corps Member in Chicago. After TFA, Elie taught English in rural communities in India and Israel. In 2018, he returned home to the DMV to be a founding teacher at Washington Leadership Academy. In 2020, he co-founded InnerView Education, which helps high schoolers practice self-reflection for self-direction as they prepare for and apply to college. Elie is a founding board member of ConnectDMV. In his free time, Elie volunteers at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, travels, surfs, and dreams of peace
Jillian Sharkey is the school counselor at Ross Elementary School! She works closely with teachers, parents, and the mental health team to support students’ social-emotional growth. Jill loves teaching social-emotional strategies in the classroom and working with students one-on-one or in small groups to help them reach their personal goals. She’s especially excited to teach Peace of Mind every Monday morning! This is her third presentation with the incredible Peace of Mind team, and she’s thrilled to share her excitement for their work and be part of such an inspiring and mindful community!
Natalie Elmore is the school social worker at Ross Elementary School, who mainly works with students through individual and small group counseling intervention. She is a licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) with a trauma therapy background who has been working in DC schools since she relocated to the area almost 5 years ago. Her favorite part of her job is seeing students grow by fostering lifelong skills for their holistic health and wellbeing and loves that Peace of Mind gives all students access to learning such important skills. A psychology major in college, she is thrilled for her students to learn about the brain in conjunction with emotional regulation and conflict resolution skills, and can’t wait to share more about how much she loves Peace of Mind with you today!
Stephanie Gordon is the proud school counselor at Carderock Springs Elementary School in Bethesda, Maryland. With 21 years of experience as a teacher and elementary counselor, Stephanie has spent the last nine years at Carderock working to infuse mindfulness into the social emotional programming and community for students, staff, and families. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with undergraduate degrees in psychology and early childhood education, and earned a Master’s degree in counseling along with a certificate in play therapy from Johns Hopkins University. Stephanie is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) and registered play therapist (RPT). Most importantly, she is a mom to seven year old daughter, Rosie. They enjoy practicing mindfulness and yoga together in their free time.
Syreetta McArthur has served communities in Washington, D.C. for fourteen years in several capacities. As an elementary and social justice educator, she recognizes the need to practice mindfulness as she centers equity in her teaching practice. Syreetta witnesses the positive impact Peace of Mind has on her students every day and recognizes the need for it in every level of education, in every school.
Syreetta holds a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction for Social Justice from Loyola University Maryland. Syreetta is a lifelong learner that enjoys annotating articles and research papers. She is a proud plant mom and lover of a good writing pen.
3:25 pm to 4:00 pm Experiential Learning
Elie is the Peace Teacher for grades 2-5 at Lafayette Elementary, DC’s largest elementary school. In 2016, he started his career as a Teach for America (TFA) Corps Member in Chicago. After TFA, Elie taught English in rural communities in India and Israel. In 2018, he returned home to the DMV to be a founding teacher at Washington Leadership Academy. In 2020, he co-founded InnerView Education, which helps high schoolers practice self-reflection for self-direction as they prepare for and apply to college. Elie is a founding board member of ConnectDMV. In his free time, Elie volunteers at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, travels, surfs, and dreams of peace.
Linda Ryden is the creator of the Peace of Mind Program and author of the Peace of Mind Curriculum Series, a cutting-edge combination of mindfulness-based social-emotional learning, conflict resolution and social justice for Early Childhood through Middle School. Linda has served as the full-time Peace Teacher at Lafayette Elementary School, Washington DC’s largest public elementary, since 2003 and continues to teach Peace of Mind classes to more than 700 students every week. Linda is also actively engaged in supporting her school’s efforts to sustain an inclusive and equitable school climate.
Linda is the author of five mindfulness-based children’s books including three published by Tilbury House. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, Washington Parent, Washington Family, Teaching Tolerance, Edutopia, among others. Linda was a keynote speaker at the National Network of State Teachers of the Year conference in 2020 and a featured speaker at the National Education Association Foundation Symposium in 2018, and has received a Commendation for Educational Innovation from the DC Board of Education.
Linda brings a passion for teaching peace and over 25 years of teaching experience to her work with children and adults. Linda holds a BA from Wesleyan University and lives in Washington D.C. with her husband Jeremiah Cohen, owner of Bullfrog Bagels, their two children, and their dog Phoebe.
Jana Boddy is a lifelong early childhood educator and advocate for young children, families and educators. After 25 years of preschool and child care center leadership, Jana stepped into the role as a public school Kindergarten classroom educator. Jana earned a degree in Early Childhood Studies from Walden University (Summa cum laude). In addition to leadership and education roles, Jana is an Ambassador and Professional Development Specialist for The Council of Professional Recognition (CDA), a member of MDAEYC public policy team, a member of Fred Rogers Educators Network Alumni and a member for Abilities Network Project Act advisory board. Jana was selected as a member of the first Regional Fellowship Advocacy cohort representing MDAEYC and the recipient of the Lasting Legacy Scholarship in 2022. Jana was featured in NAEYC Young Children educational journal in the Fall 2024. Jana was selected for the first Inclusive Leadership Development cohort through the Abilities Network in Baltimore, MD, Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) Women in leadership cohort and Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program (MECLP) through the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Jana began her career in Early Childhood Education in 1997 and has held various positions as an infant educator, preschool teacher, public school educator, director and mentor. She managed early childhood programs in a private setting and a nonprofit child care center at a shelter for children and families experiencing homelessness. Jana currently teaches professional development through her current school district and has shared her knowledge with various panels through NAEYC, Peace of Mind Inc. and her local school district in Anne Arundel County Maryland. Jana advocates on a local, state and national level through organizations such as NAEYC, MDAEYC and local early childhood coalitions and collaborations.
Jana has an adult daughter who studies and works in international affairs. Jana enjoys traveling, dancing on an adult hip-hop competitive team, attending professional development for educators and inclusion, and volunteering her time with her local teachers union.
In her twenty-two years at Brightwood Elementary School, Kalpana Kumar Sharma continues to find immense joy in shaping young minds. With a master’s degree in early childhood special education from The George Washington University, Inspired Teaching fellowship and a fellowship from Leading Educators, she remains dedicated to professional growth and excellence in teaching.
Ms. Kumar has taken on numerous roles within her school and the DCPS community, including Teacher Leadership Innovation Early Childhood Coach, Teacher Selection Ambassador, and Chairperson of the Staff Culture and Wellness Committee. Her commitment extends beyond the classroom, as she actively participates in initiatives like the School Equity Committee and the School Garden Committee, fostering a holistic educational environment.
Her dedication has not gone unnoticed; she has received several prestigious awards, including the Rubenstein Award for Highly Effective Teaching, Values Award from Leading Educators and the Wolf Trap Best Teacher Award. Ms. Kumar was also honored at the DCPS Standing Ovation annual event for Excellence in Teaching (2024), a testament to her impact on her students and the community.
What drives Ms. Kumar the most is the curiosity and excitement she witnesses in her students each day. She believes that teaching empowers students to discover their innate potential. Passionate about outdoor learning, she aims to introduce its numerous benefits to her young scholars and encourage her colleagues at Brightwood to embrace this transformative approach.
Ms. Kumar is spreading awareness for self-care among young scholars, parents, teachers and the community by sharing the SELF-CARE MATTERS initiative and Peace of Mind program. Her goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle and create a wave of self-care consciousness to form a happy society. Through her work, Ms. Kumar exemplifies the profound impact that dedicated educators can have on their students and the community at large.
Kelly Gilstrap is a career educator with over 14 years of experience both teaching and serving as an instructional coach. As a mindful educator, Kelly believes in the power of school communities to develop student capacity to face challenges in their lives and the world with kindness, courage, and compassion. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Educational Administration. After recently teaching and coaching in Washington, DC, she now serves as a consultant with Peace of Mind, providing training and educator support. In this role, she develops and delivers training for those new to PoM and schools looking to strengthen their implementation model.
Kelly now resides in the sunny state of Georgia with her children and her husband Neil Gilstrap, Co-founder and CTO of Cadmore Media.
Conference Videography and Photography
Hey everyone I’m Leslie, the creative behind LNJ Designs. I was born and raised in Tampa Florida and attended college at the University of Florida (Go Gators!). After graduating, I took a huge leap of faith and moved to Washington DC to study City and Regional Planning. During this time, I worked in education and taught for DC Public School and led national leadership programs across the country for high-achieving students. After taking a break in 2014, I found my passion for storytelling. I purchased a used camera from a college friend and started taking pictures of everything. They were terrible. Really terrible. I was determined to get better and within a few short months, I was pretty good at my hobby. I went to work for a national nonprofit and started photographing events as a side hustle. A few years later, my passion and side hustle turned into full-time entrepreneurship. Over the last few years, my team and I have photographed and filmed major conferences, advertising campaigns, government events, documentaries, and everything in between. It’s been amazing to see the progress from buying a used camera to seeing your work featured in Billboards in Time Square, magazine covers, advertising campaigns, and everything in between. To learn more about LNJ Designs, check out my website at www.LNJDesignsPhoto.com
Big Thank You to our Conference Volunteers and Supporters!
Kelly Gilstrap is a career educator with over 14 years of experience both teaching and serving as an instructional coach. As a mindful educator, Kelly believes in the power of school communities to develop student capacity to face challenges in their lives and the world with kindness, courage, and compassion. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Educational Administration. After recently teaching and coaching in Washington, DC, she now serves as a consultant with Peace of Mind, providing training and educator support. In this role, she develops and delivers training for those new to PoM and schools looking to strengthen their implementation model.
Kelly now resides in the sunny state of Georgia with her children and her husband Neil Gilstrap, Co-founder and CTO of Cadmore Media.
